Director SS Rajamouli has teamed up with South Indian superstar Mahesh Babu for their upcoming film, tentatively titled SSMB29. While an official announcement is yet to be made, Rajamouli has been teasing fans while dropping hints.
Rajamouli shared a short video on Instagram on Saturday featuring a majestic lion and an Indian passport in his hand. The clip ended with the lion being caged, symbolizing how Mahesh Babu is now “locked” for the film. Captioned “Captured,” the post sparked excitement among fans.
For those unaware, the lion metaphor is a nod to Mahesh Babu, whom fans affectionately call a “lion,” a title earned after he voiced Mufasa in the Telugu version of Disney’s The Lion King. Responding to the post, Mahesh Babu quoted his iconic dialogue from Pokiri in Telugu: “Okkasaari commit ayithe naa maata nene vinanu” (Once I commit, I won’t even listen to myself).
Actress Priyanka Chopra, rumored to play the female lead, appeared to confirm her role with a comment saying, “Finally.”
Speaking at RRR’s screening in Japan, Rajamouli shared details about the project. “We’ve completed the script and are in pre-production. The protagonist, Mahesh Babu, is locked. He is a Telugu actor, and many of you might already know him. He’s very handsome, and I promise you’ll love him when the film releases,” Rajamouli said, adding that he hopes to finish the project swiftly.
SSMB29 is set to be a grand two-part epic saga. Prithviraj Sukumaran is also confirmed to join the cast as the main antagonist. Fans are eagerly awaiting more updates on this highly anticipated film.